Rabbana Ighfir Lana Dhunubana Wa Israfana: Dua for Forgiveness and Steadfastness (Quran 3:147) – Arabic, Hindi, Urdu & Meaning

Rabbana ighfir lana dhunubana wa israfana fi amrina wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘ala al-qawmil-kafirin is a dua from Surah Al-Imran, verse 147. It means: ‘Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess in our affairs, make our feet firm and help us against the disbelieving people.’

It is the dua of the devoted followers of earlier prophets, who did not lose heart when hardship came. Below you will find the Arabic, Roman English, Hindi and Urdu, the meaning of each word, what ‘israf’ (excess) means, who made this dua, how Allah answered, and the authentic Hadith that uses the same word.

Quran Reference

• Surah: Al-Imran (Chapter 3), verse 147
• Read online: Quran 3:147 on Quran.com
• Context: Quran 3:146 to 3:148, in the passage of the Surah about the Battle of Uhud

What Does Rabbana Ighfir Lana Dhunubana Wa Israfana Mean?

• Rabbana – our Lord
• Ighfir lana – forgive us
• Dhunubana – our sins
• Wa israfana fi amrina – and our excess in our affairs
• Wa thabbit aqdamana – and make our feet firm
• Wansurna – and help us, give us victory
• ‘Ala al-qawmil-kafirin – against the disbelieving people

The dua has three requests, in this order: forgiveness, firm feet and help. They asked for forgiveness before they asked for help. This is a lesson in itself: before asking Allah for strength, we first ask Him to forgive what we have done wrong.

The last part of the dua is about the enemy in the battle that the verses speak about. Many Muslims use the first two parts to ask Allah for forgiveness and for firmness in any hardship.

What Is ‘Israf’ (Excess in Our Affairs)?

The word ‘israf’ means going beyond the limits. Translators render ‘israfana fi amrina’ in different ways: ‘the excess committed in our affairs’, ‘our extravagance’, or ‘our transgression’. In Quran 7:31, Allah tells us to eat and drink but not to be excessive.

In this dua, the believers admit that they may have gone beyond the limits in their affairs, and they ask Allah to forgive it. They do not say ‘we are perfect’. They say ‘forgive our sins and our excess’.

Who Made This Dua?

Quran 3:146 says that many devoted followers fought together with earlier prophets, and that they did not lose heart because of what struck them in Allah’s cause, nor did they weaken or give in. It ends with: ‘Allah loves the steadfast.’ Then Quran 3:147 says that their only words were this dua.

These verses come in the part of Surah Al-Imran about the Battle of Uhud, after the Muslims suffered losses. The example of the earlier believers is a reminder for every believer who faces hardship.

How Did Allah Answer This Dua?

Quran 3:148 says: ‘So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. For Allah loves the good-doers.’ So the answer in the Quran is the reward of both worlds, and Allah’s love for those who do good.

What Does the Authentic Hadith Say?

This Hadith is not an explanation of verse 3:147 itself. It uses the same word, ‘israf’ (excess), in a dua of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

In Sahih Al-Bukhari 6398, Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to make this dua: ‘My Lord, forgive my sin, my ignorance and my excess in all my affairs, and what You know better than I do. O Allah, forgive my mistakes, my deliberate acts, my ignorance and my jesting, and all of that is found in me.’ It is also recorded in Sahih Muslim 2719 and Sunan Abu Dawud 1509.

Reference: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6398 and Sahih Muslim 2719

If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Allah to forgive his excess in all his affairs, we need to ask even more.

Benefits and Lessons

• Ask forgiveness before asking for help. The believers started with forgiveness.
• Admit your excess. We often go beyond the limits, even in permitted things, so we ask Allah to forgive it.
• Ask for firm feet. Firmness is a gift from Allah. For a dua about patience, see Rabbana Afrigh Alayna Sabran.
• Allah loves the steadfast. Quran 3:146 says so, after describing the believers of earlier prophets.
• Allah gives the reward of both worlds. Quran 3:148 tells us how Allah answered them.

When Can I Make This Dua?

Allah invites us to call upon Him (Quran 40:60), so you can make this dua at any time. We have not found an authentic Hadith that gives it a special time or a fixed number of recitations.

Some people recommend it to gain courage in hardship. This is not verified as a fixed practice. It is still a good dua to make.

Similar Duas on Forgiveness and Firmness

• Quran 3:147 – forgive our sins and our excess, make our feet firm, and help us.
• Quran 2:250 – pour out patience on us, make our feet firm, and help us. See Rabbana Afrigh Alayna Sabran.
• Quran 3:193 – forgive our sins, remove our misdeeds, and let us die with the righteous.
• Quran 2:286 – do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake.

Some people mix up these verse numbers, so it helps to check the verse number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rabbana ighfir lana dhunubana wa israfana mean?

It means: Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess in our affairs, make our feet firm and help us against the disbelieving people. The first request is forgiveness, then firmness, then help.

Where is Rabbana ighfir lana dhunubana wa israfana in the Quran?

It is in Surah Al-Imran (Chapter 3), verse 147.

Who says this dua in the Quran?

Quran 3:146 speaks about many devoted followers who fought alongside earlier prophets and did not lose heart or weaken. Quran 3:147 says that their only words were this dua.

What does israf mean in this dua?

Israf means going beyond the limits. Translators render ‘israfana fi amrina’ as our excess, our extravagance, or our transgression in our affairs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also asked Allah to forgive his excess in all his affairs, as reported by Abu Musa in Sahih Al-Bukhari 6398.

Did Allah answer this dua?

Quran 3:148 says: So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter, and Allah loves the good-doers.

Is this the same as the dua in Quran 2:250?

No. Both end with the words ‘wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘ala al-qawmil-kafirin’, but Quran 2:250 begins by asking Allah to pour out patience, while Quran 3:147 begins by asking Allah to forgive our sins and our excess.

Is there a fixed reward or a special time for this dua?

We have not found an authentic Hadith that sets a number, a special time or a special reward for reciting only this dua. Some people recommend it for courage in hardship. This is not verified as a fixed practice. You can make it at any time (Quran 40:60).

Are the Hindi and Urdu lines the Quran?

No. The Arabic is the word of Allah. The Roman English, Hindi and Urdu lines are only to help you read and understand. Please learn the correct pronunciation from a qualified teacher.

More Duas from Quran

• Rabbana Afrigh Alayna Sabran: Dua for Patience (Quran 2:250)
• Rabbana Atina Fid Dunya Hasanah (Quran 2:201)

References

• Quran 3:146–148 – quran.com/3/147
• Quran 7:31, 40:60, 2:250, 2:286 and 3:193
• Sahih Al-Bukhari 6398 – sunnah.com/bukhari:6398
• Sahih Muslim 2719 – sunnah.com/muslim:2719a
• Sunan Abu Dawud 1509

Conclusion

This dua teaches us to ask for forgiveness first, to admit our excess, and to ask Allah for firm feet and help. The Quran tells us that Allah gave the people who said it the reward of both worlds.

May Allah forgive our sins and our excess, make our feet firm and help us. Ameen.